Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) populations in northwestern Namibia are apparently not infected with piroplasms.
Babesiosis is a potentially fatal disease in black rhinoceroses. Blood specimens collected from black rhinoceroses from Etosha National Park (n = 29) and Damaraland (n = 22), Namibia, were subjected to polymerase chain reaction using Theileria and Babesia genus-specific primers and reverse line blot, with negative results. The animals were sparsely infested with ticks. In the absence of suitable prophylactic measures, naïve rhinoceroses would be at risk if translocated to Babesia-endemic areas.
Penzhorn
Barend L
BL
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa. banie.penzhorn@up.ac.za
Oosthuizen
Marinda C
MC
Bosman
Anna-Mari
AM
Kilian
J Werner
JW
Horak
Ivan G
IG
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010527:Perissodactyla / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D016794:Theileria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology
D016054:DNA, Protozoan